Students with adverse or unusual circumstances may be considered for a dependency status change by filing a Unusual Circumstance Appeal- Dependency Override. This may be done after you complete your FAFSA. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Financial Aid Advisor.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Your parents are incarcerated

• You left home due to an abusive family environment

• You do not know where your parents are and you are unable to contact them (Abandonment)

• You are older than 21 but not 24 and unaccompanied and either homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless

Examples of required documentation include, but are not limited to:

• A police report

• A statement on official letterhead from a social agency representative; therapist; clergy; court official; and/or High School educator who is knowledgeable of your situation

How to request an Unusual Circumstance Appeal- Dependency Override :

• Log in to Eforms and select forms

  • Click on the link to the Unusual Circumstance eForm and select the correct school year, reach out to your advisor if you are unable to access the form.

  • Complete the form and upload all required documentation to your account for your appeal to be considered.

Documentation is critical and necessary in making this decision. Processing time can take up to 2-4 weeks.

• Loss of benefits (i.e. TANF, Social Security)

• Unusual Medical Expenses Not Reimbursed by Insurance

How to Initiate the process for a Family Contribution Appeal:

• Email your Financial Aid Advisor with a short explanation of why you are requesting the appeal. Your advisor will walk you through the process and request the appeal through your Eforms account

• Documentation is necessary for the appeal to be approved. Refer to this document for required documentation.

• Processing time can take up to 2-4 weeks.

For more information about SAP and the Appeal process, please refer to our SAP Website.

Verification is the process we use to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA form is accurate. If you're randomly selected by the Federal Government for verification, we will request additional documentation that supports the information you reported. Don't assume you're being accused of doing anything wrong.

• Requested documentation may be different for each student – we will only request documents necessary.

• You may be asked for documentation to confirm income and tax related information, household size and number of students in your family that are in college, and/or to confirm your Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose.

• Please complete any requirements as soon as possible to expedite your award notification.